Best Nemesis

Chapter Four

Miles Pov

Malory frowned at me but shook her head on second thought, ignoring my attitude.

"We have a new sports beat reporter." She announced. "She'll be with the team on very close watch for the rest of the season. Daily practice, friendly games, away games, field trips—the whole thing."

"How about locker room access?" Cole, a chronic womanizer, smirked.

"Yes, that too," Malory said and the entire team whistled.

"But only under close supervision." And then she eyed us suspiciously. "I don't expect any misbehavior from any of you."

"Can't promise that," Landon bit his lower lip.

Malory frowned deeply at him. "Look, I took a whole week making interviews to pick the best reporter I could get," then she squinted fiercely at us. "You know I don't mess around with my job."

"Yes ma'am. I think we all know that, Harry planted his hands on his hips.

"Good. She's new. Both here in school and on my team. Don't mess with my team, so I don't mess with yours."

"Is that a threat?" Landon sulked. "Can't a guy have feelings?"

I looked at him with a sudden territorial disdain. Like I didn't want him to even think about her.

"You heard Malory right. Maybe if you channel all those feelings to the game, then we could make a good comeback on the next two Fridays."

The whole team hollered a deep 'Oooohhhhh', cupping their hands over their mouths, laughing and shoving each other.

Landon looked at me like he would stab me severally in the chest and not feel a thing.

Good. I could eat up the satisfaction I got from the memory of that disdainful look for the rest of the day.

"Thanks Cap," Malory sighed gratefully. "I'm going to call her now." And then she waved her over from the bleachers.

The girl walked quietly towards us as two members of the team gave way so she could stay right in the middle, beside them.

"Ignore them. They're just oversized high school boys with a long shot of adrenaline," I heard Malory whisper to her.

"Hello everyone, meet Ashley Cooper, our new team reporter."

"Hii," She waved and took off her glasses.

"Hiii", The team goofily mimicked her quiet high pitch and started clapping and nudging each other from overexcitement.

They liked her. They couldn't even hide it. They really liked her. Some started stretching their arms out for personal introductions.

I shook my head at my disgraceful team and looked at her assertively the moment her glasses were off.

I met tons of people every day, so I didn't register names easily.

But faces? I could never forget a face.

And then it all clicked. The annoying girl from earlier today in the hallway.

The girl that called my handsome face both stupid and disgusting.

"And here's the team captain." Malory pushed away the hungry-looking boys from her towards my direction. "Miles Asher"

She seemed to have registered my face long before I did because the cheery smile was ripped off her face the moment she looked at me.

"The team captain on the bench?" She eyed me.

The team echoed another round of 'Oooohhhhs', cackling and knocking themselves over, and this time, it wasn't funny because I was the joke.

"Yeah, right. Are you going to make that your first headline rookie?" I bit back.

"I believe your ears are just as functional as your loud mouth because Malory clearly just said my name a few seconds ago." She shot back.

The team started howling again.

"I don't pay attention to names that don't count to me," I snarled in annoyance.

"Good for you, because very soon you'll be at the mercy of the name that makes the headlines."

"A rookie threatening me?" I closed the distance between us, seething under my breath, trying to intimidate her with my height.

"The name's Ashley Cooper," she shot back. "And if my headlines sound like a threat to you, then maybe you're not as good as they glaze you."

The team erupted, and I could swear if I ever hit girls, I would have shoved her right in the face.

"I'm good! Better than good and nobody ever glazes me," I snapped at her.

"Then you shouldn't feel threatened. Don't worry, I'm not sentimental. I only write the truth." And then she walked away with an impressed-looking Malory trotting beside her.

She had the last word.

"Ohhh, bummer!" Landon held his stomach, laughing. "Someone's charm is out of season."

"She makes Malory as scary as she is, look like a trained house kitten," Cole remarked.

"This one's a Tiger. Watch out, Miles." Landon tried to catch his breath as he stretched out his hands like claws. "Or she'll scratch you." He held his stomach again, laughing as he clapped Cole's shoulder for support.

Harry snorted, unable to hold his own laughter.

"Sorry man," Ryder held my shoulder, laughing apologetically. "This one's off the charts—even for you."

Coach Warren's whistle blew them back to the court and I sat back in suppressed anger.

She was off the court but very much on my banned list.

I kept nobody there. Excluding Landon, of course, and my father's horse, Phil, who constantly never let me ride him.

She just messed with the wrong guy.

Truthful, huh? Okay, Ashley Cooper, I'd play so good you'd be biting your nails and dragging your hair off while making your damned headlines.

I swore to myself.

I was so pissed.

This girl turned me the hell off.

She was so annoying, I couldn't stand her. Not one bit.

I ignored the rest of the team's side laughs and jesting. I had just one thing on my mind.

I was going to crush that game. I would have the entire school and the internet screaming my name.

And Ashley? I would rub my victory in her face.

So much for that big mouth of hers.

You just wait, Ashley. I sneered. We'd see who'd have the last laugh after all.